James g



J. G. MACLAREN.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1915,

1,346,042. Pate t d July 6, 1920.

2 shins shiil 1.

A TTORNE Y J. G. MACLAREN.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,19I5. 1,346,042. at t d uly 6, 1920.

W AIM/W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. MACLAREN, OF HARRISON, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application filed July 26, 1915. Serial No. 41,898.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, JAMES G. MACLAREN, of Harrison, in the county of Westchester and State 0'! New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a Specification.

The main object of my invention is to produce a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus which will permit the use of a plurality of sending tube vacuum pressure transit .tubcs that may be operated independently normal position and a sub station and central station for despatching and receiving carriers and transit tubing connecting them.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the central station terminal with parts in normal position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of parts of the central station terminal showing such parts in position they will occupy while a carrier is in transit from the sub station to the central station.

Fig. 4 is a view of a modification similar to Fig. 1, except that parts are in the position they will occupy when a carrier is in transit from the central station to the sub station.

Fig. F is a sectional view showing a carrier arriving at the sub station.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a carrier starting from the sub station.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the carrier in Fi g. 6 arriving at the central station.

Like letters 0 reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The construction and operation of the apparatus wil be clearly understood by a description of the insertion and transmission of a carrier from the sub station to the central station.

At the sub station S is located a receiving chute A carried at one end by the support A. The other end is attached to a plate A having an opening therein in alinement with the transit tube D to which it is connected by a coupling D.

A carrier Y being inserted through the plate A enters through a short section of transit tube D into a contactor B where it engages with a trip B (Fig. 6) depressing and revolving same about pivot 13. Attached to the pivot B are rods B which move on pivots B The opposite end of rods B has attached thereto insulated disks B. Trip B is normally held in the position indicated in Fig. 1 by the spring B attached at one end to the main casting of contactor B and at the other to the trip B. as shown.

The carrier having engaged trip B the parts will occupy the position indicated in Fig. 6, which results in the making ofa contact between contact blades N and N which are supported in an insulator N.

The transit tube D continues as shown through central station contactor E, central station terminal F where the carrier will deliver. When air is in circulation from the sub station toward the central station said air will pass around the barrier or guide F into passage F, tube G, tube H, through ports J and passageway J- of vacuum valve J through nipple V into the vacuum drum V which is connected to a suitable cxhauster common in the art which maintains in the vacuum drum V a predetermined working pressure below that of the atmosphere. The vacuum valve J is a. balanced valve of suitable capacity and of ordinary construction operated by a solenoid or magnet coil a. 1

A carrier Y being in engagement with trip B. as above described, an electric circuit will have been completed 'starting with positive line 1, through wire 2, jack 6, plate jack b wire 3, wire 4, wire 5, blade N, blade W wire 6, coil a, wire 7, wire 8 to negative line 9, thereby coil 0 which results in moving its core a in an upward direction lifting valves J, thereby opening an air passage from tube H through ports ,vpassage J and nipple V into vacuum drum V, which results in a partial vuccum being formed in the transit tube D ahead of the carrier which will result in the atmospheric pressure propelling the carrier which upon reaching the central station contactor E engages with a trip E in central station contactor E.

The core a at its lower end is attached tov the valve J by a rod (0 and from its upper end supports through an insulated rod a the plate 0, in contact with acks a and a, which results in closing-a retaining circuit from positive line 1., through wire 2, wire 3, wire 4, jack a, plate a, jack (4, wire 10, contact blades 0 and 0 wire ll, 'wire6, coil (6, wire 7, and wire 8, to negative line 5), thereby maintaining the vacuum valve J open until carrie reaches and engages with trip E in its travel, as above described. hen the carrier moves the trip E the parts contained in central station contactor E will occupy the posltion shown in Fig. '7, as trip E is free to revolve onpivot E although normally held in the position shown 7 in Fig. 1 by the spring E The rods E are attached-to the trip E" at pivots E One of the rods E has attached to the end thereof ,an insulated disk E arranged to engage with contact plate 0' which is normally in contact with contact plate 9 supported'in insulator Q. The'retaining circuit last described having been'opened be tween contact blades 0 and the core :1

leather valve E which normally, because of its weight, hangs in a position indicated in Big. '2. It is'held in an upward direction by the spring contained in the case F The vacuum valve 'J having been opened thereby "creating a'partial vacuum within theternnnal all the atmospheric pressure -wil-l push the valve F to its seat as indi catedxin Fig. 3, "thereby sealingthe interior of terminal F from the atmosphere, compelling the air to enter the line at the sub station end A? 01' the tube D.

The incoming carrier having engagedtrnrE breaking the TGttlUlllg circuit of coil (1, as above described, destroying the partial vacuum within the terminal? leaves 'thecarrier free to pass from the tube line D into the terminal F and be discharged through valve F.

For the return of a carrier from the central station to a sub station the valve F is depressed manually and the carrier inserted into the tube I) through terminal F. The door F is then raised manually andcthe push button L pressed thereby closing a circuit from positive line 1, through wire 2, wire 18, jack a plate 03 jack a wire 12,

wire l3, push button L, wire 17, wire 15, coil 5 and wire 8 to negative line 9, thereby energizing coil 7) lifting its core 6 attached at its lower end through rod 72 to valves K thereby opening the connections between transit tube 1) and terminal F through passage F, tube G, passage Q, ports K ,p assage K and nipple P into pressure drum P and completing theretaining circuit which will. keep the pressure valve K open, the retaining circuit starting'from positive line 1 through wire 2, wire 18, jack (i plate (1 jack (i wire 12, wire 1%, contact blades M and M wire 19, wire 5, wire at, jack 1), plate 6 jack 5 wire 15, coil Z) and wire 8 to negative line 9.

The carrier X will therefore be propelled toward the sub station S by the pressure existing betw en it and pressure drum P,

said pressure drum P being supplied with air from a compressor common in the art arranged to maintain a predetermined wo king pressure therein, 7

1) pen the carrier X arriving in sub station contactor B the parts will occupy the posit ons shown in Fig. 5 and open the contact between contactblades M and M by reas'm ot the carrier revolving the trip B moving the rods B to the position shown 'in Fig. 5 whereby one o? the disks B engages withcontact blade M. opening the retain-7 ing circuit last descredthereby delinergia mg cello and permitting'the core 7) and the parts attached thereto to drop and thereby shut oi? the a J connections between the transit tube D and the pressure drum P by reason of the valves K sealing the ports K 1he carrier isthcn free to pass from contactor B th ough plate and bebrought to rest by s! table chute A.

The spr travel of the carrier.

tiple with said coil 7) the magnet coil E the circu t being completed from positive lme 1, through wire'2, jack 6 wire 18, iaclc a jack (1 plate .64 and'wire 12, wire 1 L,

contact blades N and M wire 19, wire 5,

jack (i wire 4, jack Z)", plate b ja'ck Z), wire 20, e011 F ,w1re 16, and'wire 8 to negative lme 9. i

The doorll being all iron serves the mgs E" in contactors E and B are" not of su'llicient stren th to impede the I armature to the clutch magnet consisting of the coil F and its cast iron yoke F it is therefore apparent that it will be retained on its seat and prevent the escape of air to the atmosphere from terminal F, the yoke F and door F having finished surfaces; it is also evident that said door F" which pivots on F will drop by gravity when the coil F is dei nergized by reason of the carrier arriving within contactor B and opening the retaining circuit of coil 6 and leaving line in normal position for use from either end.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified construction. The despatching and receiving of carriers and electric circuits are identical with description heretofore given and for that reason is not repeated. The coils a and b which is Fig. 1 must be large enough to have suflicient capacity to lift the heavy valves J and K are replaced by the smaller coils c and (l, and large main valves J and K are replaced by small pilot valves T and W and large valve J is replaced by a valve Z containing a gate Z to close the air passage by sealing the port Z The'gate Z is attached to the rod Z which in turn is secured to a flexible diaphragm Z secured to and scaling the underside of the case Z forming an air chamber Z. This chamber Z is open to the atmosphere through a minute opening Z and the lower side of the diaphragm Z is exposed to the atmosphere. The chamber Z communicates through pipe T, valve T and pipe T to the tube T in which is maintained a partial vacuum. Within the valve T is indicated a gate T through which is a hole T that may be placed in alinement with the pipes T and T thereby permitting the air to be exhausted from the chamber Z more rapidly than atmospheric air is admitted through the opening Z, thereby maintaining in the chamber Z a pressure practically the same as in pipe T. The diaphragm Z is of sufficient area to permit the atmospheric pressure on the underside of said diaphragm, when T is open, to exert enough force to overcome the pressure on the gate Z and lift same from its seat when the rod Z and gate Z will occupy the dotted positions Z and Z thereby setting up a circulation of air. The air from transit tube D will bypass through casting R, passages R, R Z port Z and nipple V into vacuum drum V for the propulsion of the carrier from the substations to the central station 0.

Pressure valve U has a ate U controlling the port U said ate being attached to the rod U and exible diaphragm U covering the underside of easing U said casing having a minute opening U into the chamber U in every way similar to the vacuum valve Z except that on opening the pressure valve U the rod U must be moved in a downward direction to the position indicated in Fig. 4, and a spring U is provided to return the rod U to its normal position to close gate U over port U The chamber U is connected through a pipe W, pilot valve \V and pipe W to a pipe W in which is maintained an air pressure above that of the atmosphere. As indicated in Fig. 4 it is assumed that door F" has been closed for the transmission of a carrier from the central station C to the sub station S and that the push button L has been pressed and released thereby having energized coil (1 as explained in the description of Fig. 1, and thereby completedthe retain- 8 ing circuit for coil (Z in a manner identical with that for coil b. The core d carries the insulated rod d which in turn supports the contact making plate d to make contact across jacks d and d when in its lower position. The core d is attached to the gate W by means of a rod d. Jacks d, d,

(Z (Z d", in Fig. 4 correspond with jacks b,

b, b", b and 15 respectively in Fig. 1. Core c of coil 0 has attached to its upper end an insulated rod a supporting the contactplate c which in its upper position will close contact across jacks 0 and a and which in its lower position will close contact acrossjacks c and 0. Attached to the lower end of core 0 is a rod 0 which in turn is attached to the gate T of the pilot valve The jacks c c 0' and c in Fig. 4 correspond... with the jacks a a, a, and a respectively in Fig. 1. It is therefore apparent that the despatch of a carrier from the sub station will cause the energizing and the denergizing of the coil 0 and opening and closing of the pilot valve T and therefore the opening and closing of the main vacuum 106 valve Z and that the closing of push button L will energize the coil d which will be de energized by the arrival of the carrier in th contactor E and therefore the opening an closing of the pilot valve W and the main 11 pressure valve U. The modification in Fig.

4 has the advantage over the construction in Fig. 1 of preventing the carrier smash through the terminal head F upon its arriva at the central station. The incoming carrier 1 when it engages with a trip E'opens the retaining circuit of the coil 0, but the valve Z cannot immediately return a, its seat as. its descent by gravity is governed b the amount of time required for'the admission of atmospheric air through a minute opening Z" into chamber Z". The carrier having engaged trip E and opened the retaining circuit, the circulation of air will continue" for a short period and the carrier will be slightly retarded in its travel through the casting R due to the friction. b the air draft from transit D andfcastingg intothe passage R. The carrier velocity and weight combined will carry it through casting R causing it to compress the air between .the carrier and the valve F which will cause it to nearly stop and then descend slowly as the air is exhausted from the space between the incoming carrier and the valve F around the clearance spaces existing between the carrier and the inner wall of the transit tube and terminal head F, thereby bringing the carrier to rest on the valve F where it will remain until the vacuum valve Z is closed when the carrier is free to drop by gravity through the valve F of the terminal F. The slow closing of the valves Z and U has a further advantage of eliminating sudden shocks to the suction and pressure pipes, blower and motor,'as the air velocity and pressure will not change so suddenly as in the construction shown inFig. 1, wherein the valves J and K'close instantly when the electric retaining circuit is broken.

It will also be observed that the contact blades l and N in the contactor B may be replaced by the contact points in a manually operated push button such as L, :this push button to be located within reach of the operator at'sub station S, it will also be noticed that when the contact plate used in connection with any of the coils a, b, 0-, cl, is in'its upper position, it opens'the circuit in which is contained its "companion coil thereby forming an interlocking device which prevents the opening of the main vacuum valve J while the pressure valveK is open and vice versa. Valves Z and U are subject to a similar control.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction emfor the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation and from the sub-station to the'central station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said transit tube to said suction source,.a valve controlling the passage of airfrom said pressure source to said transit tube,.electrical-ly operated'means for opening one ofsaid valves to cause air to propela'carrier from the sub-station to the centralstation, electrically operated-means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier for causingsuch valve to close, elecs trically operated means-to open the other valve to cause air to propel a carrler from interlocking means for preventing the open- .of air from said transit tube to said suction scribed, the combination of a pressure sourcev ,and a'suction source, a s ngle transit tube valve is open.

ing of one of said valves when theother of said valves is open.

2. In, an apparatus of the character'described, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation and from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the passage source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the inserted carrier to openone valve to cause air to propel such carrier from the sub-station to the central station, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier for causing such valve to close, electrically operated means for opening the other valve to cause air to propel a carrier from the central station to the sub-station, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier for causing the last-mentioned valve to close, and interlocking means for preventing the opening of one of said valves when the other 7 of said valves is open.

3. Inan apparatus of the character defor. the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation and from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the passage '100 of air from said transit tube to said suction source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, means for opening oneof said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from the sub-station to the central station, means including a device the path ofthe traveling carrier adjacent to said central station automatically to close such valve on or about the time of the arrival of the .carrier. at said v the time of the arrival of the carrier at said sub-station, and locking means for preventing the opie'ningof onevalve when the other u 7 12 0 .4. 'In an. apparatus of the character de-' scribed, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source,a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a sub,-

station and from the sub-station to the cen-' tral station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said transit tube'to said suction source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, means set in operation by a traveling carrier for opening one of said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from the substation to the central station, means set in operation by said traveling carrier for closing the said valve thus opened, means for opening the second valve to propel the carrier from the central station to the sub-station, means set in operation by a traveling carrier for closing the last-mentioned valve, and retarding means to delay the discharge of the carrier at the central station end of the transit tube when the closing means for said first-mentioned valve is operated.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation and from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said transit tube to said suction source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, electrically operated means for opening one of said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from the substation to the central station, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier for causing such valve to close, electrically operated means to open the other valve to cause air to propel a carrier from the central station to the sub-station, electrically o crated means including a device in the pat of the traveling carrier for causing the last-mentioned valve to close, and retarding means to delay the discharge of the carrier at the central station end of the transit tube when the closing means for said first-mentioned valve is operated.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation aud from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said transit tube to said suction source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, electrically operated means for opening one of said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from the sub-station to the central station, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the travellng carrier for causing such valve to close, electrically operated means to open the other valve to cause air to propel a carrier from the central station to the sub-station, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier forcausing the last-mentioned valve to close, interlocking means for preventing the opening of one of said valves when the other of said valves is open, and retarding means to delay the discharge of the carrier at the central station end of the transit tube when the closing means for said first-mentioned valve is operated.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation and from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the of air from said transit tube to said suction source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, means for opening one of saidvalves to cause air to propel a carrier from the sub-station to the central station, means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier adjacent to said central station automatically to close such valve on or about the time of the arrival of the carrier at said central station, means for opening the other of said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from said central station to said substation, means including a device adjacent to said sub-station automatically to close the last-mentioned valve on or about the time of the arrival of the carrier at said substation, and retarding means to delay the discharge of the carrier at the central station end of the transit tube when the closing means for said first-mentioned valve is operated. i

8. In an apparatus of the character described,the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a substation and from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said transit tube to said suction source, a valve controlling the passage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, means for opening one of said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from the substation to the central station, means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier adjacent to said central station automatically to close such valve on or about the time of the arrival of the carrier at said central station, means for opening the other I of said valves to cause air to propel a carrier from said central station to-said substation, means including a device adjacent to said sub-station automatically to close the last-mentioned valve on or about the ems ' tion, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction therein, a pressure source and a suction source, valve means controlling the communication between said tube and said sources, electrically operated means for operating said valve means to place said tube in communication with either of said sources to cause the propulsion of a carrier in either direction, and means Working with each valve, ef

fective when the valve is open to preclude energization of the operating circuit for the other, thereby to prevent interference with the transmission of the carrier by operation of said valve means. I

10. A pneumatic apparatus for the transmission of carriers, comprising, in combination, a single transit tube for the trans-- mission of carriers in either direction therein, a pressure source and a suction source, valve means controlling the communication between said tube and said sources, means for operating said valve means to place said tube in communication with either of said sources to cause thepropulsion of a carrier in either direction, and retarding means for delaying the discharge of the carrier after such previously established communication has been discontinued.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a source of oppositely acting pressures, a. single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction between a central station and" a sub station, valves controlling the admission of said pressures to the tube respectively, an electric circuit for initially operating each valve, a connecting device moving with the valve and acting to close a retaining circuit, automatic means for interrupting said retaining circuit, the initial operating circuit for each valve passing through the connecting device of the other and being broken by movement thereof when that other valve is operated. V

12. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a transit tube to transmit a carrier, suction means in communication therewith to draw a carrier from a distant station to anearer station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said tube to said means, electrically controlled means for holding open said valve after a carrier is introduced at said distant station, automatic means for releasing said electric control as. the carrier appreaches the nearer station and brake means retarding. the response of the valve to such release.

' 13. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a transit tube to transmit a carrier, suction means in communication therewith to draw a carrier from a distant station to a nearer station, a

valve controlling the passage of air from said tube to said means, pneumatic means for movlng the valve, electrically controlled means for operating said pneumatic means to hold open said valve after a carrier is introduced at said distant station, automatic means for releasing said electric control as the carrier approaches the nearer station, said pneumatic 'means functioning in the manner of a dash-pot to retard the response of the valve to, such release.

14. In an apparatus of the class described a transit tube having a downwardly directed end portion closed by a terminal valve, a suction tube entering the pipe at a distance from the end, a valve controlling the pressure in said pipe, means for holding open the valve while a carrier is transit toward said end, automatic means for releasing said valve as thecarrier approaches the suction tube, and means for retarding the closing of the valve on release thereof.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a sub-station and from the sub-station to the central station, a valve controlling the passage of air from said transit tube to said suction source, a valve controlling the pass sage of air from said pressure source to said transit tube, means for opening one of said valves tocause air to propelra carrier from the sub-station to the central station, means set in operation by said traveling carrier for closing the said valve thus opened, means for opening the second valve to propel the carrier from the central stationto thesub-station, means set in operation by a traveling carrier for closing the last-mentioned valve, and retarding means acting on the first mentioned valve to delay the discharge of the carrier from the central station end of said transit tube after the closing means for the valve is operated.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pressure source and a suction source, a single transit tube for the transmission of carriers in either direction from a central station to a sub-station and from the sub-station to the electrically operated means for opening the other valve to cause air to propel a carrier pro- 7 from the central station to the sub-station, electrically operated means including a device in the path of the traveling carrier for causing the last-mentioned valve to close, and retarding means avting on the first mentioned valve to delay the discharge of the carrier from the central station end of said transit tube after the closing means for the valve is operated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 10 name to this spevification this twentyseeond day of July, A. D. 1915.

JAMES G. MACLAREN. 

